CHAPTER ONE: IN BLACKEST NIGHT
-Coast City
It was a cool night as Hal Jordan walked swiftly down the side walk. His hands were in his pockets and he was trying to avoid bumping into anyone. He was trying to make it to the air field on time. A habit he was hopping to pick up.
He was never sure how long it would take him to get there. Ever time he was requested for a mission he would be sent a letter telling him which route to take. It was an attempt to make sure no one would follow him.
Finally he reached his destination. It was no secret that it was an air field, but only a few people knew what really happened there. Some of the United States most secretive weapons were tested here.
He entered the front building and walked up to the man at the front desk.
"Name and number"? the man asked.
"Jordan, Hal, four-four-two-one-four-one" he answered.
The man entered the number into his computer and waited as it loaded.
"So what have you got for me today"? Hal asked. The number passed and his identity was confirmed.
"Oh you know. The usual secret experimental fighter jet". The man then began printing out informational sheets of paper. He stapled them together and handed them to him.
"So the best kind" Hal said and walked to the door on his right. He opened it and stepped into the locker room. Ever time Hal entered this room he felt a little star struck. He was the only one doing anything tonight, but he knew that some of the best piolts in the world had been in this room.
He got dressed putting of his test flight uniform and grabbed his helmet.
He exited the locker room door and entered the hanger. It was the utter opposite of the locker room. He had been the only one there, but in the hanger there was at least a hundred people running around.
Hal didn't waist any time. He found what he was looking for and walked strait for the brand new jet. He stood in front of it in aw with his helmet under his arm.
A man in a military uniform and a clip board in his hand walked up next to him.
"Hey Rick. How are the kids"? Hal said knowing who it was without even having to look.
"Good. How have you been? I see you've made it on time for once" Rick said.
"I'm doing good and yeah I even surprised myself tonight" he said and got closer to the jet.
"You know the procedures Jordan. You have to talk with me first" a voice rang from behind them.
"Of course Bob. I do want to know how to fly this thing before I get in it". He followed Bob back to his office. It was standard procedures for him to be told everything there was to know about the aircraft before he could fly it.
Hal didn't like this part about what he did. After he was explained to about all the planes capabilities, he had to sign a document saying that he understood the risk. It always took away his adrenaline and brought him back to reality. Were there was a chance he wouldn't come back.
He signed at the bottom of the paper like he always did and left Bob's office. Seeing the plane again he started to get back his adrenaline.
The time had finally arrived.
"Ready for this one man" Rick said and patted Hal on the back.
"Yeah, lets do it" he said and started up the ladder to get to the cock pick. He made it to the top and sat down. Rick followed him and began strapping him in.
"All ready to go" Rick said and tapped Hal's helmet three times. Hal nodded and Rick went back down the ladder.
The glass door shut and Locked him in. He turned the jet on and started to roll backwards. The large doors of the Hanger opened and he could see the starry night sky.
He made his way slowly towards the run way. Finally after what seemed like forever for him. He got there. The take off was as usual it could be. Even thou he was the first person to ever fly an aircraft like this one, he felt like he had been flying it for a while.
He had been in the air for a few minutes when a voice came over the radio.
"Okay Jordan, lets try and pick up speed and no showing off today" it said.
"But Bob its night" Hal said sarcastically.
"You know what I mean, don't be a smart ass" Bob said angrily.
Hal laughed and began to pull back on the control stick slowly. "How's this"? He asked.
"Fine, keep it up but don't go over board" Bob said back. Hal could tell he was still angry. Or is he always angry Hal thought. He couldn't make up his mind.
He continued to gain speed and he was slowly being pushed back in his seat.
"Hold there" Bob said. Hal stopped gaining speed.
"Take a right". Hal did. "Take a left". Hal did again.
"Your not saying Simone says" Hal said, but there was no response. Hal thought that out of ever thing he said that night that should have gotten the biggest rise out of him.
He turned back on to his previous course and slowed down. Still he herd nothing. Fear wasn't a luxury he aloud himself to have when he was flying, but he was getting restless. Then he felt the jet move slightly even thou he did nothing to make it move.
With aloud bang it felt like the right side had been hit by something. The plane began to spin out of control and started plumetting towards the Earth. Hal tried to gain control but nothing he did worked.
Then among all the noise he began to hear something.
"Hal !" "Hal !" "Eject"! "Get out of there"! Bob was yelling.
Hal pulled on the lever that should have shot him out of the cockpit, but it was jammed. This is it, I knew it would happen early Hal couldn't help but think.
He continued to fall and pick up speed. He went over everything he could do in his mind. He found nothing. He concluded that all he could do was close his eyes and hope there was no pain.
Right before he was about to hit the ground for some strange reason unknown to him he slowed down first and then hit the surface with a loud thud.
He was alive and for the most part unhurt. He couldn't believe it. He pulled on the lever to open the glass covering, but it was still jammed.
He took off his helmet and made sure to look down. He started banging on the glass with his helmet until it shattered. He pushed him self out of the seat and stood on top of the broken jet. His ears were ringing and he could barely hear anything.
As he stepped down and looked around he realized he was in the outskirts of Coast City. He also noticed he found it hard to stand. He fell over but caught himself on the wreckage before he completely face planted.
He made it back to his feet and began to walk. He stopped and turned around to see the very expensive plane in ruins.
Just then he thought he saw a green light flash by is face. He turned in the direction he saw it come from but found nothing. You escaped with your life. Did you think you'd have your sanity as well he wondered. But then he saw the flash of light again. This time he followed it.
The outskirts of Coast City was not a safe place to be. It was mostly desert with the occasional large rock formation. He made his way as quickly as he could. Ever now and then he would she the green light shine for a few seconds and then go out. He wasn't stupid he could tell it was probably leading him some where.
Then he thought he saw the outline of a person laying on the ground. It was almost pitch black and he could barely see. When he got closer it was confirmed. Yes. There was someone or something there.
At first his eyes followed the green light. To him it looked like some kind of green ring. The ring moved throw the air and landed in the hand of the strange figure. The figure raised his hand to his face and Hal could it was something else.
The man, or at least Hal thought he was a man, was completely red and had no hair. Hal's first instinct was to run and he did.
"Wait"! the man yelled out. Hal stopped. He didn't know why. By all means he should have kept going, but he didn't. Hal turned around slowly.
"Please come here" the man said softly.
Hal walked very slowly towards the man and stopped when he was in front of him.
"Please tell me your name" he said. By know Hal could tell the strange person was not in good shape.
"Hal...Hal Jordan" he said almost whispering.
"My name is Abin Sur. I am the green lantern guardian of space sector two-eight-one-four. Greeting to you Hal Jordan".
"I take it your not from around here" Hal said binding down next to him. He noticed the was wearing a very strange green uniform. "I came here on a mission to warn you about them but they fired on my ship and I crashed".
"Warn us about what"? Hal asked deeply interested
Abin Sur cried out in pain and held his right side. "I don't have much time" he said and took a deep breath. "I sent my ring to find someone worthy of following me as a green lantern. It brought me you, so here Hal Jordan of Earth I give you my ring".
He extended his hand out to him. Hal could only look at the green glowing ring. "Please take it"! Abin almost yelled.
Hal took the ring and held it in his fist. He was almost afraid to look at it. "You must hurry. Leave here. If your government finds the ring they could do terrible things with it".
Hal stood up and looked around. He could see lights and he heard helicopters coming. Abin made a noise and Hal looked down at him. He was stretching out his hand.
Hal bent back down again."Promise me you will defeat them" he said with his last breath and his hand fell. Hal grabbed his shoulders. "Defeat who"!? he screamed.
Then he was reminded about Abin's waring and he heard the helicopters getting closer. He stood back up and looked around wandering what to do. Finally he did the only thing he could do. Run.
He was lucky he knew the area pretty well. If he didn't he would have spent weeks trying to get back into the city. He couldn't think about anything. All that his mind could think of was getting home.
Fifteen minutes ago he was doing what he loved to do and the his world was great. Now his world was falling a part. He was also lucky that it was night and there were few to no people in the streets. Seeing a guy in a flight uniform running like hell throw the streets might alarm people.
After running for some time he finally made it to his apartment. He was glad he kept a spare key under the door mat. Other wise he would have had to break down the door.
He shut the door behind him and fell to the floor. He had never ran that long before and he was exsausted. He pulled himself up and sat against the door.
He looked down at his closed fist. He pulled it up to his face and opened it. There sat the green ring that was now his. It must have great power he thought. If it was so dangerous the government shouldn't know about it.
He knew he probably shouldn't but he was beginning to have the urge to put it on. After all, with everything that had happened to him. He had to know it was worth it. Slowly he took the ring in his left and and placed it on his right.
Nothing he thought after a few seconds. But then the ring began to fell warm and it started glowing brightly.
"Hal Jordan" he herd severely voices say in unison.
"The ring has chosen you as its keeper. Us it well. You are the key to its power. Your will controls it. You must clear your mind and focus"
Hal found it hard to move like many times that night. He though the voices had stopped, but then they began chanting.
"In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight! Let those who worship evils might, fear my power Green Lanterns light"!
Hals eyes began to burn and he looked at himself in the mirror to his right.His eyes were glowing green. He grabbed the ring and began to pull and with much strength he finally got it off. He looked back in the mirror and found his eyes there regular colors.
He held the ring in his left hand. He throw it against the wall and it bounced off landing on the floor. It stopped almost perfectly in front of him.
Hal was tired physically and mentally. He wasn't sure what to think or do. However he was sure of one thing. It was official, he hated the color green.